title: Removal of copper from aqueous solution by electrodeposition in cathode chamber of microbial fuel cell.
abstract: Based on energetic analysis, a novel approach for copper electrodeposition via cathodic reduction in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was proposed for the removal of copper and recovery of copper solids as metal copper and/or Cu(2)O in a cathode with simultaneous electricity generation with organic matter. This was examined by using dual-chamber MFCs (chamber volume, 1L) with different concentrations of CuSO(4) solution (50.3 ± 5.8, 183.3 ± 0.4, 482.4 ± 9.6, 1007.9 ± 52.0 and 6412.5 ± 26.7 mg Cu(2+)/L) as catholyte at pH 4.7, and different resistors (0, 15, 390 and 1000 Ω) as external load. With glucose as a substrate and anaerobic sludge as an inoculum, the maximum power density generated was 339 mW/m(3) at an initial 6412.5 ± 26.7 mg Cu(2+)/L concentration. High Cu(2+) removal efficiency (>99%) and final Cu(2+) concentration below the USA EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for drinking water (1.3mg/L) was observed at an initial 196.2 ± 0.4 mg Cu(2+)/L concentration with an external resistor of 15 Ω, or without an external resistor. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that Cu(2+) was reduced to cuprous oxide (Cu(2)O) and metal copper (Cu) on the cathodes. Non-reduced brochantite precipitates were observed as major copper precipitates in the MFC with a high initial Cu(2+) concentration (0.1M) but not in the others. The sustainability of high Cu(2+) removal (>96%) by MFC was further examined by fed-batch mode for eight cycles.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Urban Habitat Environmental Science and Technology, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China. taohc@pkusz.edu.cn
authors.forename: Hu-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-Ren
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D003300:Copper / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004566:Electrodes; D004595:Electroplating / Q000379:methods*; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper